Apparatus for applying liquid to the interior of parts



y 1968 R. G. WITTEMANN ET 3,385,261

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUID TO THE INTERIOR OF PARTS Filed Dec. 16, 1965 VENTORS ROSS G. WITTEMANN ROBERT G. NYSTROM AT TORN EYS United States Patent 3,385,261 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LIQUID TO THE INTERIOR 0F PARTS Ross G. Wittemann, Wethersfield, and Robert G. Nystrom, Glastonbury, Conm, assignors to Loctite Corporation, Newington, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 514,178 8 Claims. (Cl. 118--317) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system for the application of liquid to the interior portions of parts advancing in series is provided by the use of a reciprocating liquid discharge nozzle which moves into and out of the interior of the parts; an operating sequence control (a) times the periodic opening of a liquid control valve to disperse liquid only when the nozzle is in the forward position and (b) upon movement of the nozzle to the retracted position, activates an ejector to positively and rapidly remove the treated part.

The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing system and more particularly is directed to an automatic fluid dispenser and system for the rapid sequential delivery of a metered amount of liquid sealant to the surface of a part to be treated.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic fluid dispenser and system capable of applying a precisely metered quantity of fluid to an exact location offset from the location of the dispenser.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic fluid dispenser well suited to assembly line usage and adapted to provide in an accurate and dependable manner the discharge of fluid within the interior of a part to be treated.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fluid dispenser and system for the precise and rapid sequential delivery of controlled quantities of a wide variety of fluids having different viscosities, which system exhibits the requisite flexibility to permt ease of installation and ready adaptability to a variety of fluid metering uses.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fluid dispensing system for the rapid discharge of measured quantities of liquid sealants to the inner surfaces of a series of threaded nuts, which system incorporates a sealant applicator capable of advancing a discharge nozzle into the interior of the nut at an exact location removed from the applicator and to retract the nozzle for permitting ejection of the treated nut and advancement of the nuts within the series.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid dispensing system incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the fluid delivery station of the system shown in FIG. 1 including a fluid dispenser and a schematic diagram of the flow lines and controls associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view, partially broken away, of the fluid delivery station of FIG. 2; and

ice

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the feed track of the system taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail wherein like referenced characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, there is shown an embodiment of a fluid dispensing system for the treatment of threaded fasteners and the like such as threaded hex nuts. The nut treater generally designated 10 is provided with a substantially flat generally rectangular supporting platform 12 mounted on the pedestal 14 and comprises a hopper 16 for supplying nuts or other parts to the gravity feed chute or track 18 which terminates at a fluid delivery station generally designated 20. The circular hopper 16 is raised above the platform 12 and is supported thereon by the upstanding cylindrical housing 22. The hopper receives a supply of untreated nuts 24 and by vibratory force moves the nuts toward and around the interior of the peripheral fender 26 until they reach the downward- 1y tapered hopper exit 28.

Positioned adjacent the exit 28 and sloping downwardly therefrom at an acute angle is the narrow, substantially straight, gravity feed track 18. The track is suitably supported by a number of track supporting brackets 30 secured to the platform 12 and, as best shown in FIG. 4, comprises a flat, generally rectangular slide 32 which rests on the cross bar 34 of the bracket. The slide 32 has along one edge an integral leg 36 upstanding therefrom at a right angle thereto for providing a fixed side barrier for the track. An adjustable side rail 38 supporting the top guide bar 40 is adjustably secured to the slide base 32 by the wing bolt 42 which abuts the edge of the adjustment slot 44 in the base 46 of the rail 38. The adjustable side rail 38 is further provided with a single side aperture 48 adjacent the lower extremity thereof at the fluid delivery station 20. As best shown in FIG. 2 the aperture 48 readily permits the insertion and withdrawal of a discharge nozzle 50 of the fluid applicator assembly, generally designated 52. The side 38 is adjustably positioned so that the untreated nuts 24 are fed down the track 18 in a vertical manner whereby upon reaching the fluid delivery station 20 they present to the aperture 48 free access to their interior threads. The top guide bar 40 and fixed side 36 also assist in maintaining the nuts in proper orientation during their gravity feed along the track.

Positioned intermediate the ends of the track is a part detector for sensing an interruption in the feed of the nuts therealong. The detector comprises a sensing control 54 supported on the platform 12 and an air line 56 which extends from the control to a fixed position adjacent the track. Thus, if the supply of nuts within the gravity chute is interrupted or otherwise inadequate to fill the chute to the point of detection, the sensing control 54 will automatically stop the operation of the machine.

The platform 12 at the fluid delivery station 20 is provided with an aperture 58 through which the treated parts may drop after application of the sealant or other liquid thereto. Adjacent the aperture 58 is secured a bracket 60 upstanding from the platform 12 and terminating in an integral flange '62 protruding over the fluid delivery station 20 and a portion of the gravity feed track 18. Supported by the flange is a pneumatic or air cylinder 64 whose plunger 66 passes through the flange and is secured to a generally rectangular slide member 68 positioned contiguous the flat face of the bracket 60 and adapted for reciprocal longitudinal movement along the body thereof. As shown in FIG. 1 the body of the generally rectangular bracket 60 is provided with a longitudinal slot 70 which receives a key 72 projecting rearwardly from the slide 68 for controlling the longitudinal reciprocal movement of the slide during actuation by the air cylinder 64. The slide 68 is additionally provided at its bottom end with a perpendicular flange 74 of rectangular cross section whose uppermost surface 76 is slanted at the same acute angle as the track 18 and is aligned with the top surfaces of the slide 32 so as to provide an uninterrupted continuation thereof.

Spaced above the flange 74 is an ejector ram 78 which is adjustably secured to the slide 68 in face-to-face relationship therewith. The ram 78 is provided with a lower surface 80 which contacts the top of the nut 24 within the fluid delivery station 20 and cooperates with the top surface 76 of the flange for properly positioning the nut therein. Adjacent the slide 68 at the delivery station 20 is block 82 aflixed to the bracket 60. As shown the block supports the adjustable stop screw 84 which prevents sliding movement of the nuts beyond the station 20. Positioned below the fluid delivery station is a nut ejector 86 comprising a thin vertically disposed body member secured to bracket 60 and extending outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle thereto. The ejector 86 is provided with a tapered top surface 88 which cooperates with the flange bifurcating slot 90 of the slide to cam the nut outwardly from the flange 74. During the downward movement of the slide the ejector ram acts as a barrier to the nut and continuously pushes it against the surface 88 until it falls by gravity through the aperture 58 into a suitable collector not shown.

The fluid applicator assembly 52 is supported by the platform 12 adjacent the delivery station 20 and includes a fluid dispensing head 92 and a control console 94 associated therewith. The dispensing head comprises a generally L-shaped head block 96 fixedly secured to the platform by the bracket 98 in a slightly inclined position. The head block consists of a generally square body portion 100 having a cylindrical bore 102 extending therethrough and an integral generally rectangular side portion 104 having a first through passage 106 communi eating directly with the bore and a second side passage 108 intersecting the first passage intermediate its point of exit from the block and the bore 102.

Supported within one end of the bore and coaxially aligned therewith is a cylindrical tubular sleeve 110 within which is telescopically received a movable nozzle carrier 112 having fixedly secured to the forward end thereof a disk-like front plate 114 supporting the discharge nozzle 50. Threadably received within the opposite end of the bore is the carrier actuating air cylinder 116. The pneumatic cylinder is provided with a plunger 118 extending forwardly therefrom through the block and carrier to the front plate 114. The forwardmost end of the plunger is aflixed to the plate 114 for reciprocally driving the carrier and discharge nozzle toward and away from the fluid delivery station. A flexible tubular fluid flow line 120 communicates with the discharge nozzle 50 through the front disk 114 and extends rearwardly within the dispensing head, through the passage 106 to the point of exit thereof where it is connected in a suitable manner to a fluid supply conduit 122. As shown in FIG. 2 the tubular fluid flow line 120 is spiraled about the plunger 118 in order to provide suflicient slack for the reciprocal movement of the nozzle carrier 112 thereby preventing disruption of the interconnection with the nozzle.

Secured to the side portion 104 of the block 96 is a smaller air cylinder 124 having a plunger 126 extending through the side passage 108 and terminating in a plunger head 128. The plunger head cooperates with the wall of the block at the intersection of passages 106, 108 to valve or control the fluid flow within the line 120. Accordingly the force of the plunger against the line is effective to squeeze or collapse the line thereby interrupting the flow of fluid from the control console 94 to the discharge nozzle 50.

The control console shown in FIG. 1 as resting on the platform 12 adjacent the dispensing head 92 is a generally rectangular enclosure or cabinet provided with a centrally located storage compartment 130 suitable for receiving a supply of liquid sealant or the like. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention a suitable container, such as a plastic bottle containing the liquid sealant, is placed in the compartment and the conduit 122 immersed in the liquid after first passing through the central hole 132 in the cover 134 of the compartment. The storage compartment or tank is adapted to receive air under pressure through the control valve 136 and to remain airtight thereby forcing the liquid sealant through the supply conduit 122 to the dispensing head 92. The control console is further provided with suitable valves and electrical circuitry, generally designated by the numeral 138, for controlling the operating sequence of the applicator assembly 52 and particularly the pneumatic cylinders 64, 116 and 124.

In operation the storage compartment or fluid reservoir 130 is provided with a suitable supply of liquid to be dispensed and the cover 134 is securely affixed to provide the necessary pressure-tight environment. A suitable supply of nuts or other parts to be treated are then placed in the hopper 16 from which they are fed to the chute 18 and along the chute to the fluid delivery station 20. Compressed air supplied by a remote compresser is fed to the air supply distributor, generally designated 140, in the control console 94 and through suitable valving to the pneumatic cylinders and the storage compartment, the compressed air forcing the fluid within the storage compartment to flow through the supply conduit 122 to the dispensing head 92. The operating sequence control 138 upon actuation opens the air line 142 permitting compressed air fiow to the pneumatic cylinder 124. The cylinder actuates the plunger 126 and moves the plunger head 128 against the flow line thereby closing the fluid flow line and preventing further flow of the liquid to the dispensing nozzle 50. The applicator assembly 52 is then ready for continuous cyclic automatic operation. The operating sequence control 138 initiates the automatic cycle by opening line 144 to the flow of compressed air, causing operation of the pneumatic cylinder 116 and forward movement of its plunger together with the telescoping nozzle carrier 112 and the discharge nozzle 50. The tip of the thin, hypodermic type nozzle thereby is positioned within the interior of the threaded nut 24 and is ready to deposit the liquid sealant or other fluid therein. As the nozzle tip reaches position, the operating sequence control 138 closes air line 142 for a short predetermined time interval thereby causing retraction of plunger 126 and permitting the flow of liquid from the storage supply compartment through the line 120 to the tip of the discharge nozzle 50. The period of time the valve is held open will vary depending on the pressure applied to the storage compartment and the flow characteristics of the liquid, i.e., its viscosity. After discharge of the measured amount of liquid sealant on the interior threads of the nut 24 the operating sequence control reactivates the pneumatic cylinder 124 to close the valve and deactivates the cylinder 116 so as to retract the nozzle carrier 112. Upon clearance of the nozzle from the fluid delivery station 20 the air line 146 is opened permitting actuation of the air cylinder 64. As mentioned hereinbefore the cylinder 64 causes the slide 68 to move downwardly carrying the treated nut 24. The tapered surface 88 of the deflector 86 passes into the slot 90 of the slide and cooperates with the ejector ram 78 to force the nut outwardly of the slide, causing it to fall through the aperture 58 within the support platform 12. The air cylinder 64 is then deactivated so as to return the slide to a nut receiving position. A short delay is programed into the control 138 at this stage of the cycle to permit the next adjacent nut within the slide to move into the fluid delivery station whereupon the pneumatic air cylinder 116 is activated to initiate another cycle of the operating sequence.

As can be seen from the foregoing description the pres 83 cut invention provides an improved fluid dispensing system incorporating an automatic fluid dispenser which can be employed to apply precisely measured amounts of fluid to an exact location remote from the dispensing head. Additionally, the system is well suited for assembly line use and provides and accurate, dependable and rapid means for depositing metered amounts of various liquid materials to the interior of a series of progressively advanced parts.

As will be apparent to ersons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent Without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A system suitable for the rapid, sequential delivery of metered quantities of liquid to the interior portion of a series of parts which comprises: a liquid dispensing station; a liquid dispensing mechanism comprising a liquid discharge nozzle, a pressure actuated nozzle carrier for moving the liquid discharge nozzle into and out of a liquid dispensing position within the liquid dispensing station, and a pressure actuated valve for controlling the flow of liquid to the nozzle; a part delivery mechanism comprising track means for delivering the series of parts in abutting relation to the liquid dispensing station, stop means associated with the track means for stopping the parts in the liquid dispensing station in general registration with the liquid discharge nozzle, and pressure actuated ejection means for positively removing the liquid treated part from the liquid dispensing station; and an operating sequence control to: (a) upon movement of a part into the liquid dispensing station, activate the pressure actuated nozzle carrier to advance the liquid discharge nozzle into the liquid dispensing position; (b) open the pressure actuated valve to allow a metered quantity of liquid to be delivered through the liquid discharge nozzle to the interior portion of the part; (0) close the pressure actuated valve to stop the flow of liquid, and deactivate the pressure actuated nozzle carrier to move the liquid discharge nozzle from the liquid dispensing position; and (d) activate the pressure actuated ejection means to rapidly remove the part from the liquid dispensing station and permit a subsequent part to enter the liquid dispensing station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the track means [or delivering the series of parts is an inclined gravity feed track having an adjustable side member for slidably confining the parts during movement thereof toward the liquid dispensing station, and the ejecting means includes a reciprocating slide member for moving the liquid treated parts away from the liquid dispensing station.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the ejection means includes a pneumatically actuated reciprocating slide for moving the treated part out of the liquid dispensing station and a part eamming surface for assisting in the removal of the part from the slide, the movement of the slide being controlled by the operation sequence control in relationship to the movement of the nozzle into and out or" the liquid dispensing position.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the liquid is liquid sealant, and the parts are threaded nuts.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the liquid is liquid sealant, and the parts are threaded nuts.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the liquid dispensing mechanism includes a dispensing head having a fixed sleeve adapted for telescopically receiving the nozzle carrier during reciprocal movement into and out of the liquid dispensing position.

7. The system of claim 1 including a liquid storage compartment adapted for pressurized liquid delivery via a flexible conduit to the liquid dispensing nozzle.

8. The system of claim 1 including a liquid storage compartment adapted for pressurized liquid delivery via a collapsible, flexible conduit, and the pressure activated valve is a plunger adapted to collapse the conduit and stop fluid flow therethrough while the carrier is out of the liquid dispensing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,232 8/1944 Nelson et a1 118-317 X 2,825,190 3/1958 Heald.

2,943,001 6/1960 Socke l183 17 X 3,044,894 7/1962 Makowski et al. ll88 X CH RLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

J. P. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiner. 

